WASHINGTON — National Journal’s annual rankings are out today and it
turns out that Sen. John Cornyn ranks as more conservative among
senators than Rep. Steve Stockman ranks in the House.

Stockman, R-Clear Lake, one of seven challengers in the March 4 Senate primary, has tried to paint Cornyn as a liberal.

Cornyn ranked 14th most conservative in the 100-person Senate. Stockman ranked 138
most conservative among 435 House members — behind all but two of the
24 Texas Republicans, in fact, and about in the middle of all House
Republicans.

Freshman Sen. Ted Cruz came out near the top of the Senate list, at 4th most-conservative.

The particular issues that come up for a vote in any given year can
contributed to fluctuations. Stockman ranked especially conservative on
fiscal issues, but less so on social and foreign policy issues, which
dragged down his composite score. Social policy was Cornyn’s most
conservative category.

Stockman has been hammering Cornyn as insufficiently conservative,
even calling him a “liberal” and asserting that he “loves Obamacare” –
claims that Cornyn calls ridiculous.

The two Texans in the House who ranked less conservative than
Stockman are Reps. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi and Ted Poe of
Humble.

Dallas Rep. Pete Sessions, facing a tea party challenge from Katrina
Pierson — who likewise attacks him as insufficiently conservative —
ranked 117 in the House.

The most conservative Texans in the House are Reps. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell, ranked 3d; Jeb Hensarling of Dallas, tied for 8; and Roger Williams of Austin at 13.

On the most liberal side, none of the 12 Texas Democrats placed in the top tier.

Freshman Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso came closest with a rank of 54. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas placed 89, and freshman Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth placed 156 – making him practically a moderate by the standards of a hyperpolarized House.

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